When do you start feeding kids grain?
How much?
Do you give them special baby goat grain? or same as the mamas?
And you need to put it in a space where the adult goats can get to it and eat it all ... correct?

I start separating kids at night at two weeks old so I can milk mama in the mornings. I usually put a handful in a shallow rubber dish for each set of babies. At two weeks they usually just sniff it and wander off, but they start eating soon. I give the same stuff as mom. I start out with a little and give them up to half a cup once a day once they are weaning age. I like to feed all kids grain at that rate up to one year old since they are doing so much growing. But everyone does it differently.

I start feeding grain when the kids are 1-2 weeks old and my kids get an 18% pelleted feed that is a meat maker show feed. That is different then what my does get so they will eat some of momma's then go to their creep feeder and eat their own feed. In the beginning don't put alot out because they will just play and waste it so don't waste alot of your money. I have a creep area so I can feed my kids the different feed and so the dams can not get to it. I have this thread showing out set up. viewtopic.php?f=13&t=28205

__________________Roger

"Live everyday like its you last because you never know when it will be"

All babies here have access from day 1 as I feed mama's in their stalls until I start milking.... At the afternoon feeding, I put a handful in a dish in a creep area for kids to taste while mama eats on the stand. I use a mix of 50# 18% Caprine Challenger to 5# BOSS and 10# either Calf Manna or Manna Pro Goat Balancer.....as kids get more into grain I find that they want to be piggies at around 5-6 weeks and will choke so I pick up any feed that is left before I leave the barn.

I start separating kids at night at two weeks old so I can milk mama in the mornings. I usually put a handful in a shallow rubber dish for each set of babies. At two weeks they usually just sniff it and wander off, but they start eating soon. I give the same stuff as mom. I start out with a little and give them up to half a cup once a day once they are weaning age. I like to feed all kids grain at that rate up to one year old since they are doing so much growing. But everyone does it differently.

I do the same

__________________

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as kids get more into grain I find that they want to be piggies at around 5-6 weeks and will choke so I pick up any feed that is left before I leave the barn.

Feeding free choice will eliminate the "piggy effect" because its always there for them. Mine nibble on the grain all day long, taking tid bits here and there. Its way more natural for them and I found my kids grow excellent this way. I never have choke, bloat or scours. That's why I start from day 1, you can't go to free choice if you feed limited quantities once or twice a day.

I also have only standard sized goats, so it may depend also on the growth rate you'd like. And I won't comment on the ration to use because I have a completely customized feed program.

ETA: Also, I actually end up using LESS grain then I would feeding them a set amount once or twice a day. So its cost effective for me too!

I did free choice in the creep area last year and the year before....I found I was throwing out more because of bird droppings than anything and I certainly did not want my kids eating dirtied feed.
I have found that around 7 weeks is when the kids here actually eat and enjoy their feed....yes, there is a large enough trough for all to get without shoving each other and the rate of gain is consistent wether I left it free choice or scheduled as well as being on their dams through the day...by the time my ND kids who are multiples are ready to leave at 8 weeks they average 20-25 lbs, singles are usually around 25-30lbs